Safety striking match



Sept. 23, 1941. E. E. PENTER SAFE'I Y STRIKING MATCH Filed Nov. 27, 194vEu E. Pa nter,-

INVENTOR. I

Patented Sept. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY STRIKINGMATCH Eli E. Penter, Huntington Park, Calif.

Application November 27, 1940, Serial No. 367,347

6 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to what are commonly known assafety matches, and more particularly to what I have termed a safetystriking match, as an improvement upon the generally used safety matchinvolving the rubbing action of an igniting compound or material on thematch splint against a special abrasive compound or material on the boxor cover, it being the primary object of the invention to provide amatch which may be ignited by striking the same endwise against anysolid or suitably resistant surface, with safety in so doing, both asregards the surface struck, and the holder of the match.

It is well known that of the two types of matches now in general use,the one which may be ignited by rubbing against any dry surface capableof providing sufiicient friction, cannot be used in many instances wherethe only dry surfaces immediately available would be damaged by itsrubbing thereon and the fact that ignition initially takes place at thepoint of friction.

The other general type, known as a safety match, must be rubbed againsta special abrasive material or compound on the match box or pad, and thedisadvantage of this match is that it requires the use of both hands,one to hold the match and one to hold the box or pad.

It is my purpose to provide a match which may be struck, without thenecessity of any rubbing action, against any suitable or availablesurface capable of resistance to a direct blow, and ignited by the useof only the hand holding the match, and without damage to the surfacestruck, or danger to the holder of the match.

It is a further object, for the above purposes, to provide a match whichmay be ignited by a single hand operation projecting the same endwiseagainst a resistant surface, and will initially develop ignition at apoint remote from both the hand holding the match, and the surfaceagainst which it is projected.

It is still another object, in the interest of safety in carrying ortransporting the matches, to provide for the above in an arrangement inwhich the ignition material and the abrasive or friction material are,prior to actual striking of the match in use, safely maintained out ofpossible contact and, in this sense, remotely disposed relative to eachother.

With the above general outline of the invention, its further objects andadvantages may be better understood and more thoroughly appreciated inthe course of the following detailed description of certain practicalexempliiications of the same, and by reference to the accompanyingillustrative drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and inwhich,

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the practical manner of use of the matchproposed by this invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the match, the abrasive holder orfinger piece being cut and opened. 2

Figure 3 is a side view, with the abrasive holder in vertical,longitudinal section.

Figure 4 is an edge view with the abrasive holder in vertical,longitudinal section.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the coactingportions of the ignition train and the abrasive holder.

Figure 6 is an edge view in elevation of a match constituting a slightlymodified form of the invention.

Figure '7 is a similar view showing the abrasive holder of Figure 6 insection and in igniting position during use of the match, and,

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross section through the match takensubstantially on line 8+8 of Figure 7.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, I propose amatch consisting of a splint 10 which is preferably rectangular incross'sec-v tion and which may be made of any suitable material capableof sustaining the same against a quick, sharp endwise impact against aresistant surface.

At one end, the splint I0. is coated, or otherwise provided, with a headof ignition material indicated at H, and a train of such material, asindicated at 12, is provided lengthwise of, and partially along, thesplint H], from the head II to a point intermediate the ends of thesplint substantially remote from the head. This ignition train I2, whoseouter end joins the main ignition head ll, preferably terminates at itsopposite or inner end in a. nodular extremity I3.

Sleeved on the opposite end portion of the splint I0 is a tubularabrasive holder or finger piece l4, preferably snugly, though slidably,embracing the splint, with a tightly closed outer end, as by means of asuitably fixed internal plug l5 which limits movement of the holder orfinger piece [4 in the direction of the ignition head or end of thesplint.

Within one side of the inner end of the holder l4 it is provided with anabrasive compound or material It coated thereon or otherwise fixedthereto, and in the assembly of the holder on the splint, the former istelescoped on the splint with its abrasive H6 at the same side as theignition train l2, and is fixed with respect to the splint with itsinner end spaced lengthwise of the latter with respect to the inner endor nodule I3 of the ignition train. This is accomplished by readilyfrangible means as for instance glue or other suitable adhesive H, seeFigures 4 and 5, at the opposite side of the splint, the outer closedend l5 of the holder l4 being at this time spaced from the correspondingenclosed end of the splint l0.

As thus assembled, the telescoping abrasive holder, which as abovesuggested constitutes the hand or finger piece of the match, is heldapart from the ignition train in a manner toclearly and safely avoid thedanger of premature ignition and to require that the match, grasped inthe fingers of one hand by its holder M, be struck for ignitionpurposesendwise against a resistant surface, as plainly seen in Figure 1.:Tljiefs'triking, as-against'such a surface, merely requires-a quick,sharp-impact ata single point, without rubbing, and-may be imposed on apolished fsurface without danger of marring or marking-the same, sinceit is only necessary that the frangible anchorage of the holder at H bentense to-permit-the latter tobe shifted for its lii'fiitd movementlength-wise of the splintito'ward the ignition head of the latter.

' -During the above movementof the holder rela tive tothespIintQtheabrasiVe material It rubs overthe nodule [3 at the innerend of the ignition train 12, and initiallyafiects ignition, which'itM11 be nfited isfat apoint substantially remote from the fingers as wellas from the striking surface, or in other words the striking endof thesplint. fI'he snatch fi s then" removed from the striking surfaceimmediately following its natural rebound therefrom and is safely at aconsiderable-distance therefrom by the time the flame has traveledlalongthe' ignition train to the ignition head H where the-fiame-is increasedto a point-capable of promoting ignition of'the splint itself.

A By' the above means, and in ner, the striking of the match isaccomplished withcthe-use :o'fonehand only,land'with complete safety tothelhand as well as to the surface against which the matchis struck."fByireferenceto'iFigures 6 to 8 inclusiveit will be 'noted that theignition head ll may be located at a point spaced from the striking endit of 'the splint 0* so that in striking the match no portionnoftheiignition material will come into contactwith the'surfaceagainstwhich the splint end 18 impacts. T-hus it "will be possible to safly'use'the match-against a table surface covered by a tablecloth withoutdanger of staining the'lcloth-with a color spot at the'point ofcontact,' which mi ght res'ult from ignition material. In all otherrespects the construction'of the matchbf-Figures 6 to8 inc'lusive may"be substantially ith'e' same as' 'that previously described and shown inFigures 1 to fi inclusive.

- i Having thus fully described'my invention, what l claim iszl'iAiimatchcomprising a splint adapted to be struck endwiselagainstaresistant surface, without rubbing. or'marring contact," said splinthaving a head of ignition material thereon at,or I

near,.iits'striking end, and a train ofdgnition material-extending,lengthwise thereon from said head to,:a;;pointintermediate the ends ofthe the abovejman- 'having an abrasive movable into frictionalengagement with the inner portion of the ignition train uponlengthwisemovement of the holder on, and relative to, the splint.

2. An endwise striking match comprising a splint having an ignition headat, or near, its

striking end, and an ignition train extendin lengthwise thereof andpartially therealong from said head, and an abrasive holder forming afinger piece and sleeved on the other end portion of the splint, having.a frangible connection with thesplint normally fixing the holder inspaced relation to the inner end of the ignition train,

:said holder having an abrasive 'at, or near, its

finnerilen'd;

;3..A;;match'compri'sing a splint adapted to be stmickendwiseagainst aresistant surface and havin'gan' ignition head at, or near,its1str.iking.end, and. an. .ignition' train extendingzlengthwise partiallyItherealong from said head, :a: finger ip'iece: sleeved on the .OthEI'end portion ofrthe splint "having: an abrasive at, or near, its inner'endfto. frictionally'contact the ignition train, andmeans frangiblyconnecting'the said finger piecewith the splint and normally *holdingtheabrasive of the-former in-spaced relation to,:.and from contact with,the ignition train;

4; A match comprising .a' splint having an ignition head 'at,or near,'one"end thereof, a 'finger :piebeslidable relatively to the splint atits. other =end;:ccoperating means on thesplint and-the inner end ofsaid finger, piece for initiating ignition fat'iaipoint remote from" theignition head-means for'icommunicating initial ignition 'from said pointto the ignition head, and means normally holding'the finger piece inposition with the said cooperating means in spaced apart relationlengthwise ofthe splint.

l 5.;A match comprising a'splint having amain ignition'head at,;o'rnear, one end thereof, :a-finger piece slidably disposed on theother-end portion of the splint, relatively engageable means onthe-:splint and theinner portion :of the finger piecerfor initiatingignition =ata point remote f-rompthe' ignition head upon movement ofthefingergpiece toward the head end of the'splint', means normallypreventing; such'movement :of the finger piece and maintaining saidengageable means" iii-spaced relation, means for commnnicating initialignition to theignitionhead, andwmeans limiting effective movement ofthe finger piece toward the head end of the splint.

65A match comprising asplint having a main ignition head' at, or near,one end thereof, a finger piece slidable onthe otherend portion of' thesplint, relatively engageable means on' the splint and the inner end ofsaid finger piece for initially causing ignition at a point remotefrom'the head andsubsequently communicating ignition to the head, meansnormally holding the finger piece in a position wherein said engageablemeans are spaced apart; and means limiting effective movement of thefinger piece toward: the head end of 1 thesplint.

- ELI E. PENTER.

